Matt Baker, the Countryfile host, looks set to replace Jason Manford as co-presenter of The One Show.

The Strictly Come Dancing finalist is understood to have been formally offered the job by the BBC in a deal reported by today's Daily Mirror to be worth about £200,000.

Baker, 32, will join Alex Jones on The One Show sofa on Monday to Thursday evenings if he accepts the offer. Chris Evans will continue to co-host the extended Friday evening show.

The former Blue Peter presenter has shared presenting duties on the topical magazine show since Manford quit last month after admitting that he exchanged sexual messages online with female fans.

Baker will continue to present BBC1's Countryfile programme on Sunday nights, a role he took up late last year, and is understood to be keen to join next year's Strictly tour.

Earlier this week, Baker said he was keen to take up The One Show full time, but ruled out stepping down from his Countryfile duties.

"I've had a great relationship with them over the last year so it would be lovely," he said of The One Show's Jones and Evans. "Whatever happens I do want to keep going with Countryfile so I won't be finishing with that for sure."

Should he accept the BBC's offer, Baker will be the The One Show's fourth male co-presenter in eight months, following Adrian Chiles, Manford and Evans.

He lost out to EastEnders' Kara Tointon and Artem Chigvintsev in Saturday's Strictly final.

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